ThermoQ -2 questions:

Hows your fuel pump? I had a 318 in a Charger do what you have described. It was a car I was selling and didn't drive regularly, but I always had to pour fuel in the carb (2 bbl). I put on a different fuel pump and it worked fine.

The spacer should be fine, wouldn't worry about it. Is it an open spacer? I would not recommend the 4 hole spread bore adapter though.